Crutch or supporting device



y 1939- c. D. UPTON CRUTCH OR SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l 6 Wh z/V fiwm/ X z A TTO/PA/E May 23, 1939. c. D. UPTQN2,159,301

CRUTCH OR SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented May 23, 1939 2,159,361

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRUTCH R SUPPORTING DEVICE Clifford D.Upton, Covington, Ohio Application December 11, 1937, Serial No. 179,345

2 Claims. (01. 155-22) This invention relates to crutches or devicescomprises a horizontal handle-bar I0, and legs II for supporting lame orinfirm persons or cripples firmly secured to and extending downwardly inwalking, and more particularly to improvetherefrom in such divergingrelation as to rest on ments in crutches for use by persons, who fromthe floor or ground at relatively widely spaced 5 any cause, are tooweak, infirm or timid to walk points so that the crutch will stand aloneand 5 with the usual separate crutches which the user form a stablesupport for a person grasping and holds under the armpits in walkingwith them. bearing his weight on the handle-bar. Prefer- The objects ofmy invention are to provide a ably, there are three of the legs ll,arranged so strong and rigid but light crutch of novel form that theirlower ends are disposed at the three and construction, which can beeasily handled corners of a triangle, with the middle or front leg 10and used by a weak or infirm person, and in the extending forwardly withrelation to the handleuse of which he will have a feeling of securitybar and the other two or rear legs. The legs and cannot lose hisbalance, as in the use of ordiare connected below the handle bar,preferably at nary separate crutches; which is self-supporting theirlower portions, by cross rods or braces l2 5 and provides a supportwhich the user can push and I3 which extend from the front leg to the ormove along in frontof him and bear his weight two rear legs. A crossbrace is not used between on as he progresses; which is of collapsibleor the lower portions of the two rear legs, thus knockdown constructionadapting the parts to be leaving the space between the rear legsunobgrouped in a compact form or bundle convenient structed, so that thefeet and lower legs of the for transportation; and which has the otherfeauser can be moved freely in between the rear legs 20 tures ofimprovement and advantage hereinafter of the crutch in the use of thesame, as indicated described and set forth in the claims. in Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings: In the preferred construction shown, thehan- Fig. 1 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale, dle-bar and legsof the device are made of some of a crutch embodying my invention andillustrat- Wood which is strong and stiff or rigid, but light, 25 ingthe manner of using the same. and the legs are detachably connected tothe Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the parts knocked hand e-b a bythreading the pp e of down and grouped side by side, thus adapting thelegs and screwing them into threaded sockets them to be secured in acompact bundle or pack- 5, 5 and IT in the handle-bar, these Sockets ageconvenient for carrying or transporting the being bo ed a pp peng1eS,Su0hthatWheI1 30 device. the legs are screwed therein, they willdiverge Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional plan views on a, downwardly inthe stated triangular relation to still larger scale through the severallegs of the each other. The brace rods are connected to the crutch,respectively showing the connections belegs so as to permit thedisconnection of the tween the several legs and the connecting braces es frOm e handle-bar, and the Shifting 35 th r f grouping of thehandle-bar, legs and braces in Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, side elevationof one substantially parallel positions beside one another. leg and thedetachable connection between the Preferably the brace rods l2 and I3are hinged same and the associated brace. to the front or middle leg,and the opposite end Fig. '7 is a similar view of the hinge connectionof each brace rod is detachably connected to 40 between the brace andanother leg. one of the rear legs. Each brace rod has a metal Fig. 8 isa sectional elevation showing the de ring or eye 18 secured on its frontend and passtachable connection between the brace and the ing throughand adapted to turn in a hole in a lug leg with the parts disconnected.I9 projecting from a sleeve 2!] fixed on the front While it is importantthat the crutch be selfleg of the crutch. Fixed on the opposite end of45 supporting or adapted to stand alone stably on each brace rod is aferrule or sleeve 2| made the floor and have the required strength andwith a transverse hole adapted to engage over a rigidity to afford thenecessary support and sense stud 22 projecting from a sleeve 23 fixed onthe of security to the user, it is also important for the adjacent leg,and the ferrule of the brace rod is crutch to be of light weight andcompact form, removably held in place on the stud by a nut 50 capable ofbeing conveniently handled and used 24 screwed on the end of the studabove the brace by an infirm or feeble person Without fatigue or rod. Byunscrewing and removing the nuts 24, undue exertion. The crutch istherefore conthe rear ends of the brace rods can be disengaged structedso as to give these results. from the rear legs and the rods swung ontheir As best shown in Fig. l, the crutch or device hinge connectionwith the front leg into positions 55 alongside of this leg, as shown inFig. 2, and each of the legs can then be unscrewed from its socket inthe handle-bar. Then the handle-bar and all of the legs with the bracerods can be placed side by side and placed in a suitable carrying caseor tied or otherwise secured together in this position for conveniencein carrying the device about.

The lower ends of the legs of the crutch are preferably equipped withshoes or ferrules 25 of rubber or other'suitable material which willprevent the crutch from slipping on smooth or slippery floors orsurfaces.

In using the described crutch, it is placed to stand on the floor infront of the user who grasps the handle-bar so as to support her weightthereon while standing back of the crutch. As represented in Fig. 1, theuser can then step between the rear legs of the crutch and advance thelatter by successive movements as successive steps are taken, the crutchalways being in a position where the user can steady or support herselfby her grasp on the handle-bar.

The described crutch being light, is easy to manipulate in use, andbeing collapsible, can be conveniently carried from place to place, asmay be necessary. Nevertheless it provides a strong, firm support forthe user which gives one a feeling of security in its use and preventsthe user from losing his or her balance.

Invalids who have found the use of ordinary crutches practicallyimpossible, can get around with comparative ease and rapidity with theaid of the crutch described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A crutch for supporting a person in walking comprising a horizontalhandle-bar, rods rigid with said handle-bar and extending downwardlytherefrom forming front and rear legs which diverge downwardly havingtheir lower ends arranged to bear on the floor at points widely spacedapart in both lateral and fore and aft directions so that the crutchwill stand stably on the floor, and brace rods connecting said front andrear legs below the handle-bar, the space between the lower portions ofsaid rear legs being left unobstructed to allow the feet of the user tomove freely between the rear legs of the crutch, said legs havingreleasable connections with the, handle bar and said braces which adaptsaid members to be shifted into a compact side by side relation.

2. A crutch for supporting a person in walking comprising avhorizontalhandle-bar, rods rigidly but removably attached to said handle-bar andextending downwardly therefrom forming downwardly diverging front andrear legs having their lower ends arranged to bear on the floor atpoints widely spaced apart in both lateral andfore and aft directions sothat the crutch will stand stably on the floor, and brace rods rigidlyconnecting said front and rear legs below the handle-bar, the spacebetween the lower portions of said rear legs being left unobstructed toallow the feet of the user to move freely between the rear legs of thecrutch, each of said brace rods being detachably connected at one end toone leg and movably connected at its other end to anothor leg to fold toa position beside this latter leg, for placing the handle-bar, legs andbraces in a compact side by side relation.

' CLIFFORD D. UP'I'ON.

